Landfill May Have Caused Selangor Water Pollution

HULU LANGAT, March 4 (Bernama) -- The release of garbage from the landfill at Bukit Tagar in Hulu Selangor could be one of the reasons for the pollution of Sungai Selangor, which resulted in the foul smell of piped water in several areas on Feb 26.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the landfill was probably the prime suspect for the pollution after he was informed of the likelihood of the overflow from the "leachate" pond at the landfill following heavy rain.
"I am not saying that this is 100 percent certainty but there is a strong likelihood," he said after attending the National-Level Green Book Campaign launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at Taman Seri Nanding, here Friday.
He said the Sungai Selangor water pollution problem arose since the landfill existed.
Earlier, The public was told by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) that excessive ammonia was the reason for the smell.
However, Selangor Infrastructure and Public Utilities Committee Chairman, Datuk Abdul Fatah Iskandar said yesterday that water samples taken from the river revealed the presence of effluents from animal farms, as well as palm oil and rubber factories had contributed to the smell of the water.
The Menteri Besar said water samples taken by the Environmental Department at every kilometre of the river would tell the real cause of the pollution.
Dr Mohamad Khir said the Selangor government at first did not agree to the construction of the landfill at Bukit Tagar because the seepage from the leachate pond might increase the ammonia content in the rivers nearby.
However, the company running the landfill had submitted a study report which said there would be zero leachate discharge.
He said if it could be proved that the pollution was caused by the landfill, action would be taken against the operator.
The investigation paper on the case was being prepared and would be submitted to the Attorney-General, he said.
Last Sunday, consumers in Kuala Lumpur, Gombak, Petaling Jaya, Klang, Shah Alam, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Selangor and Hulu Langat alleged that the piped water in their houses was smelly.